Pure Gold Jewellers has secured the immediate release of 400 insolvent prisoners in Bahrain following the expansion of its ‘Forgotten Society’ initiative to help debt-laden prisoners, the company said.

Firoz Merchant, founder and chairman of Pure Gold Jewellers, met with Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowment, recently to implement the programme in Bahrain.

‘Forgotten Society’ aids in the release of insolvent prisoners irrespective of their religion and nationality, and Bahrain is now the second beneficiary of the programme, after the UAE.

As the first phase of the programme, Merchant has pledged BD120, 000 ($350,000) annually to buy air tickets for indebted prisoners in Bahrain who have completed their jail terms but have no financial means to return to their countries, said the statement.

In co-ordination with the government authorities in Bahrain, he has secured the immediate release of 400 prisoners, the statement added.

Merchant said: “The first batch of prisoners will be released as soon as possible, so they can reunite with their families. This will be our Ramadan gift. We also plan to extend our ‘Forgotten Society’ programme to reach out to more countries. By helping insolvent prisoners, most of them victims of circumstances, we are able to give them a second chance in life.”   

Pure Gold Jewellers is an award winning jewellery retailer recognised for excellent customer service. It is now one of the fastest growing jewellery brands with 125 stores in the UAE, GCC, Asia and Asia Pacific. It is the only ‘D’ certified World Diamond Mark authorised diamond retailer in the GCC region, the company said. – TradeArabia News Service